Briton falls to disappointing 7-6 (3), 6-2 loss to Austrian world No 55
28th seed’s struggles with same issues as opening matches of season
Emma Raducanu crashed out of the Australian Open in the second round with a poor 7-6 (3), 6-2 loss to Anastasia Potapova after a tepid, error-strewn performance in Melbourne.
Having only lost to grand slam champions inside the top 10 at the grand slams last year – Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek twice – defeat to world No 55 Potapova is Raducanu’s worst first-week result by ranking since the 2024 Australian Open, which was her comeback major from an eight-month layoff.
Raducanu, the 28th seed, was in control for a significant portion of the match after establishing a 5-3 lead and serving for a set. However, after being more solid than her opponent for much of the opening set, she crumbled in the decisive moments. Raducanu’s struggles were identical to her issues in the opening matches of the season; her first serve was impotent and imprecise in the important moments, and her forehand was painfully erratic.
